How to get into the Gears of War 3 Beta…

Epic Games released some great info for Gears of War fans today. For those that were upset about Gears of War 3 getting pushed to Q4 2011, there was only one morsel of information that offered any sort of respite. That morsel was the the promise of a free multiplayer beta during Q1 2011. Wait.. free Gears 3? How the hell do I get an invite? Well today Epic released the following information on how to gain access to said beta. Take a look.

In this unique promotion, Epic Games and EA are blowing out the launch of Bulletstormwith access to the public beta for Gears of War 3, the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in video games. Players that purchase the Epic Edition areguaranteed early access to the Gears of War 3 beta*. Pre-order now to reserve a copy of the Epic Editionwhich will be available on Feb. 22, 2011 for MSRP $59.99, only for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, while supplies last.

“Epic is poised to break new ground in 2011 with Gears of War 3 and Bulletstorm,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “With these two highly anticipated triple-A experiences comes a unique opportunity to do something to really excite players, and that’s what we intend to accomplish with the support of Microsoft Game Studios and EA. This is for the shooter fans.”

In addition to access to the beta, the Epic Edition gives players bonus in-game Bulletstorm content when playing online, including 25,000 experience points, visual upgrades for their iconic leash, deadly Peace Maker Carbine, boots and armor. With this unique gear, gamers can kill with skill in style. Bulletstorm’s insane Anarchy four-player online cooperative mode takes full advantage of the game’s unique skillshot gameplay and unlock/upgrade weapon system to deliver the best possible multiplayer experience within the Bulletstorm world. The combination of Bulletstorm’s multiplayer gameplay and skillshot system creates a frantic and frenzied experience setting itself apart from the multiplayer experiences in traditional shooter games.

That’s right, the folks at Slant Six snuck some new characters into the mix making the players pick and choose their lineup, ultimately leaving two commandos on the bench. Take a look at these new characters and what we know of their abilities.